Chuck Swindoll - Insight for Living
Chuck Swindoll Goes After the Silence and the Solitude

Writes New Book on the Spiritual Disciplines

So, You Want to Be Like Christ?
Eight Essentials to Get You There
by Charles Swindoll of Insight for Living

A Book on the Solitude and Silence of
Contemplative Prayer

This book should have been subtitled:
"The Eight Spiritual Disciplines of Richard Foster"
Swindoll favorably quotes and describes the spirituality of Richard Foster, who is a disciple of Thomas Merton.

Another Christian leader who has succumbed to the new spirituality that is permeating the church.

Quotes the following:
Richard Foster
Henri Nouwen
Dallas Willard
Eugene Peterson (the Message)
Philip Yancey

QUOTES FROM THE BOOK:

"So you want to be like Christ? Me too. But that kind of godliness won't just happen ... Disciplining ourselves will require the same kind of focused thinking and living that our Master modeled." Introduction

"Let's commit ourselves to these eight spiritual disciplines." Introduction

"Henri Nouwen ... longed to get away from all those words ... So how do we pull it off? How, in a world bent on distracting us from growing deeper? ... How do you and I become more godly? ... The word is discipline. The secret lies in our returning to the spiritual disciplines." p. 9, 10.

"I have sensed a genuine need—in my own life —for the cultivation of intimacy with the Almighty.... God requires spiritual disciplines ... essential in our pursuit of godliness. ... I came across Dallas Willard's excellent work The Spirit of the Disciplines." p. 12

"Richard Foster's meaningful work
Celebration of Discipline ..." p. 15

"Discipline. This is the means for having intimacy with God. ... Discipline is control gained by enforced obedience. It is the deliberate cultivation of inner order. So how are intimacy and discipline connected? ... Discipline is the means to that end." p. 21

The Chapter on Silence and Solitude
Journey into Silence
The Ministry of Silence
Quoting Henri Nouwen's book The Way of the Heart.

Note: In September 2005, we were informed that Chuck Swindoll was favorably quoting Henri Nouwen and Richard Foster on his Insight For Living program. We contacted Insight for Living and spoke with Pastor Graham Lyons. We shared our concerns, then later sent A Time of Departing to him and also a copy to Chuck Swindoll.

In a letter dated 10/3/05 from Pastor Lyons, we were told, "With his schedule I doubt he will read it." We are sorry that Chuck Swindoll has time to read Henri Nouwen and Richard Foster but no time to read A Time of Departing, especially in light of the fact that thousands of people will read Chuck Swindoll's book, listen to his broadcasts and now believe that the contemplative authors are acceptable and good.

Incidentally, Swindoll quoted these men, not just a few times, but many times throughout the book.